Are Serial Killers Born Or Made?

Are serial killers born or made? Nature chooses what genes/traits we are born with, but at the same time, these traits cannot be expressed without a mechanism that triggers these individuals to commit these horrific crimes. A serial killer is typically a person who murders three or more people, usually in the service of abnormal psychological gratification, and the murders take place over a significant period of time. Bromberg (2011) states, “Serial killers are not your “regular” homicidal murderer. They are neither mass shooters nor spree killers.” Motives for a serial killer can include anger, attention/ thrill- seeking, and financial gain. The most common motives are power and pleasure. Serial killers are driven to murder complete strangers.
Ramsland (2005) states that, “Studies show that childhood experiences and repeated psychological trauma during the early stages of development can cause a child to seek relief through activities of violence, such as killing small animals. This study showed that these children would resort to killing small animals because they felt powerless against their parents who had control over them.” In a study of 62 male serial killers, 48% admitted to being rejected by their parents or a loved one as a child. These victims of abuse and rejection, serial killers, find comfort in their fantasies and dreams that take them into a “realm” that only they can
He committed the rape, murder, and dismemberment of seventeen men and boys between 1978-1991. Many of his later murders involved necrophilia, cannibalism, and the permanent preservation of body parts.” However, what people don’t read about is that Dahmer was diagnosed with personality disorder, schizotypal personality disorder, and psychotic disorder. Although he was diagnosed with these disorders, he was somehow found to be “legally sane” at his trial. As a little boy he was described as energetic and friendly until about the age of four. He became increasingly withdrawn from society after birth of his younger brother and after frequent family moves. By Dahmer’s early teens, he was disengaged fully, tense, and largely friendless. Dahmer claims that his murders started around the age of fourteen, and it appears that is very close to when his parents’ marriage started to fall apart. He would collect road kill and dissect them. He also acted up in school, doing what his classmates and teachers called “The Dahmer”. This was to act up and do things that were out of the norm and socially unacceptable. This kid was begging for any type of attention… an obvious issue that could have been detected! Unlike his parents/ classmates, he says that the dead carcasses gave him a feeling of comfort, fulfillment, pleasure and emotional release. Dahmer, bagan